Approach Shoes

Hiking boots tend to be heavy and offer little in the way of breathability. Climbing shoes rarely stand up to long distances and can be easily ruined if worn on the streets or in the gym. And those regular athletic shoes you’ve been wearing on your hikes aren’t going to last much longer.

If you do any type of outdoor activity that includes both longer hikes and strenuous climbs, you need a pair of quality approach shoes instead. These hybrid footwear options fuse the best of rock climbing shoes and hiking boots into one comfortable fit, which means you can transition from a steep climb to a long distance hike easily and without needing to change your footwear. Or, if you're hiking in to a technical climb, wear your approach shoes until you get to the base of the crag and then switch to your climbing shoes.

Many of the approach shoes we carry here at Rock Creek come with a specialized sticky rubber sole that maintains traction on steep rock grades. At the same time, many of them also offer a great day-to-day style, so you can wear them in the city without looking out of place. In fact, with comfortable fits and high breathability, you might find they rapidly become your favorite footwear for all of life’s journeys.

Approach Shoes Brands and Options

For the proven standard, we encourage you to take a look at our selection of Five Tens approach shoes. One of the most versatile brands of approach shoes, Five Ten stands up to long-term use and also comes in a variety of men’s and women’s styles to suit your taste. Another great brand of approach shoes is Evolv. These super cushy footwear options provide all the support and traction you need in styles that hold up for everyday wear.

Additional approach shoes options available at Rock Creek include those by Salewa and Scarpa. Designed with breathability, waterproofing, and all-around safe travel in mind, these options allow you to fuse comfort and durability in one convenient package.